Cameron, Hollande discuss UNSC, terrorism

Four hours after his arrival in New York from San Jose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his day with a meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron, which was followed by his meeting with French President Francois Hollande.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with France's President Francois Hollande in New York on Monday. (PTI)

Four hours after his arrival in New York from San Jose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his day with a meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron, which was followed by his meeting with French President Francois Hollande, and made a strong pitch for the reforms of the United Nations Security Council within a timeframe with both the leaders.

Modi also urged the two leaders to support India’s bid to become members of the export-control regimes like the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) besides climate changing figuring as a key agenda in the meetings.

Both France and Britain support India’s claim to be permanent member at the UNSC. These two permanent members, unlike three others — US, Russia and China — remained unambiguous in their position all throughout, both on the expansion of the council and Indian membership.

Prime Minister has been taking up the UNSC reforms in a big way during this visit and also hosted a summit of the G-4 (India, Japan, Germany and Brazil). Modi has also been meeting leaders of as many countries as possible to garner support for the expansion of the UNSC.

Modi also took up a host of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, including terrorism and sought the support for United Nations comprehensive convention on terrorism which has long pending before the world body.

“PM and Cameron also discussed both bilateral and multi-lateral issues. The discussion also broadly touched upon what could be on the agenda when PM visits UK,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Modi also invited UK to join the Make in India initiative, especially in the defence sector. PM Modi is slated to visit UK later this year.

In all these meetings, including with that of President Obama, climate changed figured big.

Modi also discussed with French president Hollande at length trade issues in the context of a row triggered EU banning Indian pharmaceutical products.